UCLA Scandal To End Soon
The prosecutor in UCLA's handicapped parking scandal expects the case to be wrapped up Wednesday with no-contest pleas from the remaining three former Bruins football players charged in the matter.
"I expect the three to accept the same plea bargain as the other 16," deputy city attorney Brian Williams said Tuesday. "Hopefully, this will send a strong message to others in our community that this kind of activity will not be tolerated."
Washington Redskins running back Skip Hicks, Kansas City Chiefs safety Larry Atkins, and ex-UCLA linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo each face a misdemeanor charge of illegally possessing a handicapped parking placard.
They were scheduled for arraignment in Los Angeles Municipal Court on Sept. 30, but received continuances until Wednesday.
Marvin Demoff, Atkins' lawyer, said at that time it was "highly likely" his client would enter a no-contest plea.
"It was an unfortunate situation and one that is best resolved," Demoff said.
The 16 current or former UCLA players, including Chicago Bears quarterback Cade McNown a first-team All-American last season entered their pleas before Municipal Judge Sam Ohta.
All 16 have been ordered to pay $1,485 in fines and perform 200 hours of community service, and also must spend a day meeting with the disabled and their advocates.
The city attorney's office brought charges July 8 against 14 current or former players alleged to be part of the disabled parking scam, and five more were charged Sept. 13.
Nine entered pleas on July 28; four more on Sept. 14, and three including McNown on Sept. 30.
Nine are members of the current team and were suspended for the season's first two games, as was running back Keith Brown, who hasn't been charged and likely won't be, according to Williams.
"At this point, we're still evaluating two cases, but I suspect that there won't be any additional filings," Williams said.
Williams acknowledged Brown was one of the two being investigated, but said he couldn't release the other person's name.
California law allows people with temporary or permanent disabilities to obtain permits to park in special handicap spaces, to use metered spaces for free and to park in limited-time zones indefinitely.
The football players allegedly used the placards to avoid the $132 per semester fee for parking on campus and to park in the area around UCLA, where parking problems are chronic.
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